The Lagos Declaration
On Achieving Social and Economic Development through Ecological and Organic
Agricultural Alternatives
We, the 220 participants, including 34 farmers; men, women and youths, from 28 countries
attending the 3rd African Organic Conference held in Lagos, Nigeria between 5 and 9 October
2015, having deliberated on the theme "Achieving Social and Economic Development
through Ecological and Organic Agricultural Alternatives",
AGREE that Ecological organic agriculture (EOA) has a significant role to play in addressing
the pressing problems of poverty, food insecurity, land degradation, market access, food
safety and climate change in Africa. The results shared prove that ecological organic farming
systems increase yields, are resilient to climate change effects and are achieved costeffectively. Further, EOA is climate smart, preserves biodiversity, provides ecosystem
services, and produces lower carbon emissions.
APPRECIATING
 the development of EOA Strategic Plan by the Continental EOA Steering Committee
and other partners as a means of facilitating the implementation of the AU Heads of
State and Government Decision on Organic Farming (Doc. EX.CL/631 (XVIII). This
Strategic Plan is aligned to AUC-DREA's Strategic Plan, 2014-2017, the
Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Results
framework, the Malabo declaration, AU Agenda 2063 and the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 the progress by Network of Organic Research in Africa (NOARA) such as
development of an African research agenda for ecological organic agriculture.
RECOGNIZING
 the contribution of household food security to economic development, while
embracing the UN Right to Food and food sovereignty,
 the value of organic trade globally,
 that the development and implementation of policies to support the EOA sector will
require strengthening the capacities of national ecological organic agriculture
stakeholders
RECALLING
 the commitment made by African Heads of State and Government in the 2003 Maputo
Declaration calling for the allocation of 10% of public expenditure to agriculture
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Declaration of the 3rd African Organic Conference, October 5-9, 2015 @ Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja,
Lagos, Nigeria
 the African model legislation, for the protection of the rights of local communities,
farmers and breeders, and for the regulation of access to biological resources
WE RECCOMMEND ALL MEMBER STATES TO
 Endorse and support the implementation of the African EOA Strategic Plan
 Mainstream EOA in their policies, investment plans and programmes, based on the
local needs in consultation with the ecological organic agriculture stakeholders and
other like-minded organizations in their countries
 Allocate at least 1.0% of the 10% total public expenditure to agriculture for the
implementation of the African EOA Strategic Plan.
 Develop seed systems and training programs for women the youth and other
stakeholders to generate planting material resources and breeds of livestock to
promote ecological organic agriculture.
 Document and recognize the role of women and youth and to include the contribution
household food security towards GDP.
 Domesticate the African model Law for the protection of the rights of local
communities, farmers and breeders, and for the regulation of access to biological
resources
 Take steps to remove trade barriers within and across borders in order to deepen
access to national, regional and global markets and expand their market share
WE URGE
 Africa's development partners and donors to increase support to the AU led Ecological
Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative, including the expansion of the Initiative to other
African countries beyond the eight countries being supported.
 All African stakeholders and development partners to engage in and support
NOARA's research agenda which is to support the scientific, innovative and
traditional knowledge dimensions of ecological organic agriculture.
 FARA to partner with NOARA in identifying and addressing major research priorities
that will help make ecological organic agriculture more productive, profitable and
sustainable.
 National, regional and international organizations committed to supporting healthy and
productive food and agriculture systems to continue and step up their efforts to
sensitize the society about the multiple benefits of ecological organic agriculture.
 Ecological organic agriculture actors at the country level to liaise and work with the
CAADP Country teams to mainstream EOA in the CAADP investment plans.
WE CONGRATULATE the following 2015 Champions for Ecological Organic Agriculture
for their various outstanding contributions:
 Dr. Hans Herren (President of Millennium Institute, Washington DC and Biovision
Foundation, Switzerland),
 Dr. Sophia Twarog (UNCTAD; Switzerland),
 Dr. Mwatima Juma (Senior Programme Officer, IFAD and Chair of Tanzania Organic
Agriculture Movement (TOAM), Tanzania),
 Prof. Simplice Davo Vodouhe (Coordinator OBEPAB, Benin),
 Dr. Gunnar Rundgren (Sweden),
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Declaration of the 3rd African Organic Conference, October 5-9, 2015 @ Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja,
Lagos, Nigeria
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Prof. Raymond Auerbach (Nelson Mandela Metro University, South Africa),
John Wanjau Njoroge (Director Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF), Kenya),
Joseph Ngugi Mutura (Director SACDEP Kenya),
Rev. Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo (Founder of Songhai Centre, Benin),
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Governor of State of Osun, Nigeria),
Chief Dr Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo (Former President of Nigeria),
General Abdulsalam Abubakar (Former President of Nigeria),
Prof. Gideon Olajire Adeoye (Chair, NOAN, Nigeria).
WE EXPRESS our sincere appreciation for the support of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,
Governor of the State of Osun, Nigeria, for offering land free of charge to the Nigerian
organic farming actors.
WE THANK the organizers of this conference, including the AU Commission (AUC),
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nigeria, the Association of
Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN), the African Organic Network
(AfroNet), IFOAM Organics International, the International Society of Organic
Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO), and all those who provided financial and technical supports.
WE AGREE to meet in Cameroon in 2018 for the 4th African Organic Conference.
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Declaration of the 3rd African Organic Conference, October 5-9, 2015 @ Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja,
Lagos, Nigeria